user
Explain the differences between an operating system and a program.
assistant

An operating system is the main software that manages and controls a computer system, while a program is a set of instructions that tells a computer how to perform a specific task. An operating system is responsible for managing the hardware and software resources of a computer, as well as providing a platform for application programs to run on. In contrast, a program is a set of coded instructions that tells a computer how to perform a specific task, and it is reliant on an operating system for execution. An operating system provides the necessary framework for a program to run, but it does not produce the desired outcome of the program.